Gat, Azar Military Theory and the Conduct of War

The question of whether there is a general, universal theory of warfare has long preoccupied military thinkers, army personnel and students of conflict studies. Warfare has changed radically throughout history under the influence of technological change. But is there anything consistent that can be determined about it, that is taught in military academies and applied in practice? Azar Gat takes a fresh look at the relationship between politics and war and examines the meaning of victory, attack and defence, as well as the significance and role of concepts such as principles of war and military doctrine. He analyses the successive military innovations of the modern era, including the advent of nuclear weapons and the ongoing cyber and robotics revolutions of our time. He also explains why guerrilla warfare and terrorism have become increasingly important and where they are heading. Given that China and Russia pose a growing challenge to the current world order, Gat asks whether war is truly in our nature or whether it is in fact in decline. This is an essential text for anyone concerned with war, whether in academia, the military or the general public.